NEW YORK — Ads for credit-monitoring products often play on consumer fears and promote services that cost upward of $180 a year. However, there are several free or lower-cost ways to protect yourself.
BANK SERVICES:
Most banks now offer free e-mail and text-message alerts that enable you to catch any suspicious charges immediately. For instance, you might ask to be notified whenever a transaction of more than $200 is processed.
CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT:
You’re entitled to three free credit reports a year — one from each of the three credit bureaus. The website takes you to the right place on each of the credit bureau sites where you can get a free report.
FRAUD ALERTS:
If you lose your wallet or otherwise suspect you might become a victim of identity theft, one preventive measure is to put a 90-day fraud alert on your profile with the credit bureaus.
CREDIT FREEZES:
If the fraud alert doesn’t allay your fears, a more drastic option is the credit freeze. This permanently prevents any new creditors from accessing your credit report. Candice Choi, The Associated Press
